Fireworks - how to help your dog
Fireworks can be really distressing for dogs and the people who care for them, but there are things you can do to help them through.
Most dogs do not like loud noises and over half of dog owners report their dogs showing signs of anxiety during fireworks. The startling nature of them triggers the flight/fight/freeze response which can cause dogs to perceive fireworks as a threat or potential harm. Some reasons for your dogs reaction can include:
Lack of early exposure
Previous negative experience
Social learning - your dog learnt from others to be afraid
Generalisation - when a fear of other loud noises, such as gunshots, then transfers across to fireworks.
Breed predisposition and individual temperament
Symptoms of firework anxiety in dogs can include:
Sudden alertness
Refusing to go outside/attempting to escape
Restlessness
Excessive vocalisation
Body language such as -flattening ears, shaking/trembling, tucking tail, showing whites and lip licking
Hiding
Panting
Becoming extra clingy
What to do??
Get the ground work done!
The best way to help a dog with noise anxiety such as fireworks is to start early to work with them and deal with the issues at source before ‘fighting fires’ on firework night itself. Often, fireworks can be set off at all sorts of random times once the nights draw in, so it gets harder to plan ahead for such events.
Consult a behaviourist/trainer. They can offer professional help for firework anxiety, assessing your dog and help to habituate to loud noises and offer environmental tips for you to do to take the stress out of fireworks.
Try desensitising work - this is the process of gradually exposing dogs to audio recordings of fireworks at low levels for a short period of time, rewarding your dog with their favourite game or food if they are relaxed. Taking a break and then reintroducing the audio and repeating. The volume can gradually be increased as long as the dog is relaxed to enable the dog to habituate to the noise without a fear response.
Consult a vet. Sometimes there can be clinical reasons for noise anxiety, and vets can also work with behaviourists to prescribe supportive medication to work alongside professional help. Some of these medications need time to work, so if you are concerned then act as soon as you can.
What to do on the day?
Ensure your dog has had plenty of exercise during the day so they are as relaxed as possible. Mental and physical exercise is very important -see my blog on canine enrichment for ideas!
Make sure they have had chance to toilet before it gets dark
Ensure your dog has had chance to eat. Lots of dogs refuse food, or food based games/treats once fireworks start, which is a natural reaction to anxiety.
Shut the curtains, create a den for them to retreat to with their favourite toys and bedding. This can be as simple as throwing a blanket over their crate, or they may prefer to get snuggled in next to you, or want to hide somewhere completely different where they feel safe. Let them go where they feel they need to.
Play classical music! Research has shown this can soothe many dogs, and the music playing may also muffle sounds from outside.
Items like a Thundershirt or Anxiety Wrap can help. Studies have shown the pressure of these items can stimulate the production of serotonin and endorphins which in turn help to reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Consider natural methods such as flower remedies, herbs, essential oils and calming supplements to help. Pheromone based diffusers and sprays such as Pet Remedy or Adaptil can also be very effective, and there is always the option to contact your vet if you would prefer clinical help for your dog.
Provide plenty of light to mask the flashes of light and if the dog comes to you for reassurance or comfort - give them plenty! It is not true that giving dogs reassurance when they are scared reinforces the fearful behaviour, so cuddle away!
Fireworks and general noise anxiety can be very debilitating to deal with, and can become incredibly upsetting for all concerned. Being able to plan ahead and work with your dogs issues to create a calmer life for them is time well spent.
